Championing a landscape changing idea

In May 2013 we presented a concept note to DFID that argued that research should be conducted now, with the intention of creating an affordable solar electric cooking product to be rolled out at scale in Africa starting 2020. We continue on that path, but increasingly realise that it is a landscape changing idea, with implications at many levels and could strongly contribute to fulfilling SDG7.

In brief the proposition was that if the current trends in price reductions in Solar photovoltaic technology and in energy storage (specifically Lithium Ion Phosphate batteries) continued, then by 2020 a solar home system sized for cooking would have a comparable lifetime monthly cost to purchased biomass (mainly charcoal) alternatives for a sizeable proportion of the current biomass market.

As at mid 2017, we are now working with a number of research institutions and international organisations, to take not only the original proposition forward, but to build momentum towards urban areas of Africa making more use of electricity for cooking, stabilising grids, creating financially viable mini, micro and nano grids, and increasing access via solar PV systems inclusive of the ability to cook.

It is difficult to keep up with all the words and powerpoints being created, so what appears below are a few selected documents, the rest should be found in the gamos library.